WONDERLAB Showcases at the CIIE and Reaches a Strategic Partnership with Fonterra to Advance Probiotic Development

The seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) opened in Shanghai on November 5 under the theme “A New Era, Shared Future.” The expo once again drew strong interest and attracted many outstanding companies from China and around the world. On November 6, Chinese probiotic company WONDERLAB held a strategic probiotic partnership announcement with Fonterra, one of New Zealand’s largest companies, witnessed by Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister of Trade. The following day, at a New Zealand–China bilateral business cooperation event in Guangzhou, McClay again witnessed WONDERLAB reach a global strategic expansion partnership with GMP Pharmaceuticals, another New Zealand company. Together, the partners aim to advance the nutrition industry. WONDERLAB says it has consistently held its product development and manufacturing to globally oriented requirements, continually optimized its international supply-chain system and pursued evidence-based probiotic development.

Every year, the CIIE brings international companies into close interaction with China, making these exchanges a focus of public attention. Fonterra, one of New Zealand’s largest companies, has more than 90 years of experience in microbial fermentation and probiotic research. Its LactoB HN001™ (*Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus* HN001™) and BifidoB HN019™ (*Bifidobacterium animalis* subsp. *lactis* HN019™) are among the probiotic strains with the largest bodies of clinical research worldwide. WONDERLAB and Fonterra have maintained a cooperative relationship for years. At this year’s CIIE, they jointly held the strategic probiotic partnership announcement and stated that they would continue deepening cooperation in probiotic ingredients and jointly develop probiotic products tailored to local needs.

Image 1. Signing ceremony for the Fonterra–WONDERLAB partnership

At the CIIE, WONDERLAB also created a product experience area. Two products developed in cooperation with Fonterra and already available on the market—50+ Probiotics and Probiotics for Kids (“Yellow Bottle”)—became popular attractions at the venue, drawing exhibitors from China and overseas to learn about and try them.

In an interview, Komal Mistry-Mehta, Fonterra’s Chief Innovation and Brand Officer, said: “WONDERLAB is bringing probiotic solutions to consumers in an innovative, evidence-based way. Fonterra has more than 3,000 probiotic strains and ingredients, and we are pleased to work with WONDERLAB.”

Launched in October this year, 50+ Probiotics is a product developed through the partners’ research into the needs of China’s population aged 50 and above. Its formula is based entirely on bifidobacterial strains. One of its featured strains, the 30-year research-backed GOLDGUT-BB66™, originates from New Zealand’s Golden Milk Source region. Selected from dairy-derived strains, it is supported by 250 research publications and validation involving 740 human participants. The product attracted broad interest among older consumers after launch. It is designed to provide probiotic support for the gut-health needs of people aged 50 and above and to support the body’s natural defenses.

The other co-developed product, Probiotics for Kids (“Yellow Bottle”), appeared the previous month at both the 29th National Pediatric Academic Conference of the Chinese Medical Association and the 22nd International Conference on Helicobacter and Campylobacter in Australia. The product’s human clinical research in children was shared at these events and drew the attention of medical professionals from China and abroad. It is designed to support a healthy gut microbiota as preschool children grow and to support their natural defenses.

Image 2. WONDERLAB’s product experience area at the CIIE

Discussing the outlook for the partnership, Teh-han Chow, Fonterra’s CEO for Greater China, said: “As a leader in the probiotic industry, WONDERLAB has made notable contributions to probiotic product R&D and validation, as well as to consumer education on gut health and the benefits of probiotics. Fonterra looks forward to continuing to work with WONDERLAB to bring probiotic solutions that meet international standards to the Chinese market.”

New Zealand is known for its high-quality natural ecosystems, which provide distinctive, favorable conditions for microorganisms such as probiotics. The country also has a mature, integrated R&D and manufacturing industry for probiotics and nutritional supplements. The strategic partnership between WONDERLAB and New Zealand’s Fonterra creates additional opportunities for bilateral trade. By deepening cooperation in product innovation and manufacturing, the partners also aim to develop more high-quality, internationally oriented products for consumers in China, New Zealand and around the world.